She hadn't realised there was a safety strap on the trolley so didn't use it. Her infant was saved from falling out - in the nick of time - by a staff member.

Many injuries

ACC data shows in the five years since 2019, almost 1,100 claims related to babies or toddlers and shopping trolleys have been made.

Over 100 were for children under one-year-old. Older children are also at risk.

In 2019 there were:

• 306 new claims lodged for children under the age of six
• 21 involving children under the age of one
• 80 were aged between one and two
• 76 were between two and three.

ACC data relies on information provided at the time of the claim. It is possible therefore that the number of children being injured at the supermarket could be higher than recorded.

An old problem

Back in 2016, ACC data revealed over 400 babies had been injured by trolleys in the previous year.

Some supermarkets were considering using in-store signage to encourage parents to safely restrain their children in trolleys.

Now it's 2024. Fewer accidents are being reported.

But signage doesn't appear to be widespread.

Some supermarkets, like Pak'nSave, play audio messages encouraging parents to properly restrain their children.

Woolworths stores have printed information on trolley handlebars about their correct use.

Accidents are still occurring.

Options

Most stores provide trolleys for people with young children.

Some have booster-seat attachments designed for babies, others a cage-like seat for older children.

Woolworths say they regularly check their trolleys' safety features.

Worksafe says under the Health and Safety at Work Act, supermarkets must ensure other people's health and safety is "not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking".

The safety guidelines for trolleys are less stringent than for other baby-carrying devices like prams or car seats.

Plunket comment

Whanau Awhina Plunket says young children need to be within arm's reach at the supermarket.

That goes for any activity where a child is seated above the ground.

Active supervision and strapping them in where a harness is provided is key to keeping young children safe .

Source

• The Spinoff

Anna Kerr a 13-year-old played for St Mary's College Wellington second 15s but after Wednesday's game, she said she would never play on an artifical field again.

Wounds on her knees were torn open and she was forced to stop playing in the second half with a bloody hand and knees, Kerr said. They had become infected since and she was on antibiotics.

But Kerr said his concerns were not just about his daughter. Other girls on her rugby team had broken collar bones and had serious leg injuries - something he believed was caused by the hard surfaces.

Despite being the school's second-best team, four out of their five games - including Wednesday's finals had been played on artifical turf. Read more

Worksafe communications general manager John Tulloch said the new legislation reflected modern workplace conditions, the Southland Times reported.

Mr Tulloch is on the board of trustees at St Benedict's School in Khandallah, Wellington.

He said he understands there was some concern about the Health and Safety at Work Act, which came into force on Monday.

Principals will bear more responsibility when accidents happen at their schools.

Under the act, principals could be held liable if they fail to exercise due diligence in ensuring their school meets health and safety requirements.

Penalties including fines of up to $600,000 or five years imprisonment could be imposed if they fail to do so.

"Let's not lose sight of the main goal here: New Zealand has a really poor workplace health and safety record, almost twice the rate of Australia, three times the rate of the UK," Mr Tulloch said.

"There's nothing new, but having responsibilities for managing risk," he said.

Information had already been distributed to schools helping explain what the new legislation meant, he added.

A section on both WorkSafe's and the Ministry of Education's websites offered further information, he said.

Some school principals have reportedly reacted to the prospect of their being held liable by planning to place their family homes in trusts.

One school in the Wairarapa reportedly imposed a temporary ban on students climbing trees.

The Health and Safety at Work Act was prompted by the Pike River mine disaster in 2010, in which 29 men were killed.

Sources

• Southland Times
• Stuff.co.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

Mrs Pasley, who heads Auckland's Baradene College, said schools were screaming out for advice over the Health and Safety at Work Act, which comes into force next month.

Principals could be fined up to $600,000 if they fail to exercise due diligence and someone is hurt at school.

Some school principals are planning to put their homes into trust.

The Secondary Principals' Association sought legal advice for its members.

It wanted to know if transferring assets was necessary, but lawyers could not give them a definitive response.

Continue reading